Semi Truck Accident Law
A semi-truck crash can result in an injury that is serious enough to cost the victim a significant amount in medical bills. It can also result in permanent disabilities that require expensive equipment and long-term therapy.
It is essential to have a reputable New York truck accident lawyer to assist you after an accident. A qualified attorney can help to prove your case using evidence such as police reports or surveillance camera footage and much more.
Poorly maintained vehicles
Owner-operators and companies that operate trucks often fail to take the necessary steps to ensure their vehicles are in good repair. This causes an increase in the number of preventable accidents each year.
In comparison to passenger cars, semis and tractor-trailers require more frequent maintenance due to their size and heavier load. Unfortunately keeping deadlines and increasing profits can often take precedence over maintaining the fleet. This is why trucks are susceptible to mechanical malfunctions that can could cause devastating accidents.
The brakes on a truck must be able to stop and slow down the vehicle at a minute's notice. When brake pads, lines or return springs on a truck are worn out, it can lead to serious accidents and fatal injuries. It is vital that these components are regularly inspected and replaced as required to ensure that they remain in good condition.
Poor-maintained tires can also be a major factor in truck accidents. Tires that are worn out may lose traction, which causes the truck to slide or even flip over. Tires that aren't working either because of improper air pressure or tread design may fail catastrophically.
Trucks need routine inspections along with regular maintenance to detect mechanical problems before they cause an accident. If an inspection was performed incorrectly or the repair shop does not follow the manufacturer's instructions it could cause a crash. In these instances the company that employed or supervised the maintenance or repair shop could be held responsible.
Another major cause of truck accidents is faulty signals, lights, and reflectors. These items must be properly working to enable drivers to see their truck and anticipate its movements, especially in rural areas or after dark. Drivers or trucking companies may fail to maintain and inspect these components, or they may not perform daily safety checks.
A Houston truck accident attorney can investigate your case and determine who might be accountable for your damages in the event that you were injured by a deteriorated maintenance of a commercial truck. This investigation could uncover evidence that proves the defendant's negligence and assist you in obtaining the compensation you are entitled to.
Distracted Drivers
Accidents involving commercial trucks can be catastrophic. These massive vehicles weigh up to 25 times more than your car and could cause a lot more injuries if they are involved in collisions. While many factors cause accidents that result from distracted driving, it is one of the most frequent and risky. A driver who is distracted could lose control of the vehicle or fail to notice an accident on the road that could result in serious and life-threatening injuries.
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has strict rules and rules for truck drivers. This includes a prohibition on texting and using cell phones while operating their vehicles. Even if truckers follow the rules, they could be distracted and result in an accident. This can be the result of manual distractions such as getting off the wheel, or cognitive distractions such as thinking about something else other than driving.
Many people are aware that texting while driving can be dangerous, but few know that other activities, such as eating or changing radio stations or conversing with passengers could also be considered to be distracting. If a trucker is distracted it is possible that he will drift into a different area and not be aware of the traffic jam ahead. It only takes a fraction of a second for a huge truck to hit a passenger vehicle when the trucker's focus is diverted.
It is important to gather details on any witnesses and to take photographs of the scene of the crash when a distracted driver causes a crash of a truck. It is also beneficial to determine the name of the truck driver as well as the company they work for, aswell as who owns the truck if it's an independent contractor. huntsville semi truck accident lawsuit can affect who is accountable for your accident as the trucking company is responsible for securing competent and skilled truck drivers. If the trucking firm is found partially responsible for your accident, it may be liable to you for economic as well as non-economic losses.
Rear-End Collisions
Rear-end collisions between trucks are common and often result in serious injuries. They can happen in a variety of situations like an intersection or stop signal when the trucker fails to observe the road ahead for traffic in the direction of oncoming traffic. It can also happen when vehicles cross the truck's path, causing the driver of the truck to stop suddenly without warning. The trucker can then slam into the car from behind.
It can be difficult to prove fault in the event of rear-end collisions because it isn't always certain which vehicle was responsible. An experienced lawyer can assist in gathering evidence to show that the driver at the rear was responsible for the crash due to following too closely or distracted driving. This evidence could include photos or police reports, eyewitness testimony as well markings from skids on the road.
The driver in front of the car may also be accountable for the accident. This could occur if they cut off someone else or fail to make use of a turn signal, as would any other reasonable person would do. In this scenario, modified comparative negligence laws can be applied. The jury will assign a percentage of blame to each of the parties. Damages are then reduced according to.
Lacerations, Bruises and Bruises
The rear-end of the vehicle has the greatest impact in a rear-end collision meaning that occupants can sustain serious injuries after hitting their head against the dashboard or back window. They could also break bones as they are torn around inside the car as a result of the force of the collision. Injuries to the spine can be particularly severe. The spinal cord contains many nerves that regulate the body, and any injury to the spinal column can cause long-lasting and serious issues for those affected.
A person who is the victim of a serious accident might also suffer psychological and emotional trauma. They might have trouble sleeping or concentrating, which could cause anxiety and depression. They may also experience stress and financial burdens in the event that they are unable to work because of an injury. An attorney will investigate the possible sources of liability and assist a victim in receiving fair compensation for their loss.
Problematic trailer hitches
All vehicles, regardless of whether they are a car, van, truck flatbed, van should be securely connected to their trailers. Unexpectedly unhitching a trailer can cause catastrophic accidents that lead to serious injuries or death. If you've suffered injuries in a vehicle accident caused by a runaway truck, contact an experienced attorney who is specialized in cases involving hitch failure to discuss your legal options.
A defective trailer hitch could be caused by a variety of factors, ranging from inadequate secured to faulty design. It could be due to a defect on the part of the manufacturer in which case product liability laws may apply. The person or company responsible for a defective trailer can be held accountable for the victims' medical expenses along with auto repair expenses and other losses resulting from the incident.
In a fatal crash on a highway in Ohio known as "Devil's Backbone" in January 2014, the trailer slid off of the truck. It then crashed into two cars directly behind it. The initial investigation attributed the accident to the truck driver's negligence in failing examine and secure the hitch. In June 2015, however, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration began investigating the possibility that a flaw in the hitch that was an Ultra LT manufactured Fontaine Fifth Wheel in Trussville, Alabama, was responsible for the crash.
Due to the faulty hitch, the trailer struck the sides of the vehicles and then crashed into them head-on. This led to numerous deaths and serious injuries to the drivers of the vehicles.
The driver of the truck that was involved in the incident was found guilty of vehicular manslaughter. However, experts say he could have avoided the collision with other vehicles if he completed a thorough inspection of his trailer and made sure that all connections were tight. A faulty hitch on a trailer can lead to major disasters, as they typically require a significant amount of speed and can easily cause a collision with smaller vehicles or motorcycles. In such cases the trailer could distort the car's frame and push sharp metal pieces to crush passengers inside.